During the 1980s, Annie Lennox's style could have easily been shadowed by louder, more attention-grabbing pop-star ensembles, but I'm urging you to take a step back in time and revisit the underrated looks of the Eurythmics lead singer. Lennox was by no means shy and retiring in the fashion stakes, and her more masculine lilt on the decade's top trends means that today her style seems less costume and more realistic—to the point, in fact, where I'm convinced some current street style moves could be charted back to her.
Where much of the '80s was extravagant (Dynasty, diamonds, silk-satin), mumsy (Princess Di) or overtly charged with sexuality (Madonna's underwear-as-outerwear ruled) Annie walked a groundbreaking line in a different way. She would appropriate suits from the boys, take them off the rack and choose to style them big, baggy and with bravado. Her hair was cut to the shortest shock of interchangeable bleach blonde or orange. The makeup? Reminiscent of Ziggy Stardust. As for her skills in the accessorising department, any woman who can flourish a giant trench coat with a single red carnation and not look like a clown or wear a matching leopard-print stole with a pillbox hat and still seem entirely chilled is a hero in my books.
When I was young, I viewed Lennox's wardrobe as something alien, and I couldn't help singing "Walking on Broken Glass" on repeat, but looking back now, there's a wealth of fashion gold to be mined. Whether for reference points and inspiration as fashion continues to dip into the 1980s archive or for how to wear a trouser suit like a total boss.
Keep reading to see the best Annie Lennox style moments—and note the 2017 trends she ticked off along the way.
Style Notes: So this was way ahead of the current penchant Bella, Gigi, Kendall and co. have for wearing their bras with trousers and jackets.
Style Notes: Now on our shopping list? A lemon-yellow suit to add to the collection of red tailoring we've already bought for A/W 17.
Style Notes: Could Balenciaga's Demna Gvasalia have been inspired by Annie Lennox as well as Princess Diana from the same period? It's just that he had short, bright gloves worn with many of spring 2017's looks…
Style Notes: Even Versace is revisiting its classic prints—but we like how Annie wore hers big, boxy and to the airport.
Style Notes: The oversized trench coat is back in business, thanks to Vetements, but why not opt for a vintage style and flourish it with a red flower á la Annie?
Style Notes: What's the best way to wear leopard print this season? Well, just to choose a lot of it, which Annie did so well at this gig. Look and learn.
Style Notes: Almost no piece of autumn clothing is left unadorned by some variety of embellishment. We appreciate Lennox's sassy take on London's Pearly King and Queen classics.
Style Notes: When in doubt, opt for a military-style jacket. It worked in the 1980s, and it works now.
Style Notes: Much of today's A-list crowd is keen on wearing teeny tiny specs again—but you can trace that eyewear trend back to the '80s.
Next up, the best winter coats to buy this season.
